Courtesy of: University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleRusty Holloway, Adjunct Professor of String Bass, Studio Music & Jazz at UT-Knoxville performs at the Classic Wineseller's Summer Jazz Festival this Saturday at 7pm.

Waynesville, NC - Enjoy the music of top jazz performers at the Summer Jazz Festival 2013 with composer-pianist, and Steinway artist, Michael Jefry Stevens for four Saturdays of live jazz in the underground environs at the Classic Wineseller, 20 Church Street, Waynesville, NC. The festival takes place on four consecutive Saturdays: June 29, July 6, July 13, and July 20 at 7:00pm. Each Saturday includes a lavish four-course dinner with concert for $39.99 per person. Purchase two or more show dates and save $5 per ticket. To reserve your table call 828-452-6000, or email requests to info@classicwineseller.com. Seating is limited.

Michael Jefry Stevens performs extensively in Europe, Latin America and North America. A band leader for over 30 years, Stevens has more than 75 CDs featuring his music. He has performed and/or recorded with many of the top names in jazz, including Dave Liebman, Dave Douglas, Valery Ponomarev, Cecil Bridgewater, Dakota Staton, Bill McHenry, Leo Smith, Perry Robinson, Matt Wilson. He was the Margaret Lee Crofts Fellow at the McDowell Colony in 2000-2001; and is an artist-in-residence for two weeks every year at EMU Conservatory in La Plata, Argentina. He resides in Black Mountain, NC with his wife, poet Tina Barr.

Rusty Holloway is an artist performer and teacher both in the classic and jazz areas, an active clinician in improvisation and rhythm section technique, and gives master classes in orchestral and solo bass performance. Mr. Holloway has performed as a bassist with leading U.S. jazz artists including Woody Herman, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Zoot Soms, Al Cohn, Gap Mangione, Joe Williams, and Stan Getz; and in concert with Paul McCandless, Dave Samuels, Dan Gottlieb, and many more, as well as shows and television appearances with Bob Hope, Pete Barbutti, Della Reese, Liza Minelli, and Jerry Lewis.

Rick Dilling has a long list of recording credits to his name and has played for some of the greatest musicians of all time including the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Margaret Whiting, Clark Terry, Ernie Watts, Herb Ellis, Joe Temperly, Billy Taylor, and the Unifour Jazz Big Band, where he "drum-battled" it out onstage with the late, great Louie Bellson. Dilling is also on faculty at Appalachian State University where he teaches jazz drumset and regularly performs with the faculty jazz ensemble.

Sonny Thornton is is a master drummer and one of the south's most creative, intuitive musicians. Born in the District of Columbia, he was exposed to music at a very young age living in D.C., New York City, and New Orleans. While in New Orleans, he developed a friendship with Ed Blackwell, one of the most influential drummers of the 20th century. Thornton is extremely sensitive to the needs of the music and can be understated in his approach. His sense of freedom and his melodic style of soloing sets him apart from most drummers performing today. Now residing in South Carolina, Thornton continues his long career of making music in the purist sense.

Bassist/composer Mike Holstein has been playing music since early childhood but it wasn’t until he was a student at Western Carolina University that he discovered the bass. Within a few years he was performing regularly and is now one of the most sought after bassists in the Southeast. Since 2004, Holstein has been a member of the band, Cotangent, a New York-based group led by pianist/composer, Bill Gerhardt. Holstein has recorded the CDs “Stained Glass” and “Thrive” with Cotangent.

Byron Hedgepeth is among the most versatile percussionists in the southeast. He completed a bachelor's degree at Mars Hill College and a master's degree at the University of Illinois. He started the percussion program at the University of North Carolina at Asheville in 1981, and served as Director of Percussion Studies until July of 2005. Hedgepeth is currently teaching classical percussion, vibes and drum set at Appalachian State University.

Wendy Jones delivers smart and arresting jazz vocals with such passion and skill that she is now one of the most popular jazz artists in the region. Her renditions of cool, bop, and post bop standards are energetic and entertaining. Jones received her B.M. and M.M. in vocal performance from Appalachian State University, then joined the faculty where she taught voice for eight years before embarking on a full-time, professional singing and acting career. She currently teaches voice and improvisation to jazz voice majors at the University of North Carolina-Asheville.

The Classic Wineseller, Waynesville’s premiere retail wine and craft beer shop, small plate restaurant, and intimate live music venue presents local, regional, and on occasion, national talent, in a unique, intimate setting each weekend. The Classic Wineseller kitchen opens at 5:30pm on weekend evenings serving freshly prepared small plate fare. For more information about live music events, tastings, and jazz dinners visit us at www.classicwineseller.com on facebook or call 828-452-6000.